BUTLER TWP — The Butler School Board on Monday approved a sales agreement with the Arc of Butler County to buy Broad Street Elementary but only after board member Bill Halle dropped his lawsuit against the district.

District solicitor Tom King said the sales agreement, in which the Arc will buy the former school for $475,007, was contingent on Halle dropping his suit.

Halle filed the suit in August with incoming board member Leland Clark, who later withdrew from the suit, seeking an injunction to halt the sale of any of the district’s four closed schools until newly elected board members take their seats Dec. 1.

Halle told the board that he is dropping the suit, contingent on the district holding public meetings for each of the four schools whenever they have bids for sale. The meeting for the Broad Street school will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the school.

The board voted to accept Halle’s offer with board member Don Pringle saying it was “wonderful.”

“It’s about time he pulled it back,” Pringle said.

Halle said he felt his lawsuit was effective. King said the suit cost the district about $5,500.

King said the sale is contingent on two other items. One relates to getting a zoning variance, saying the building is in an area zoned R-3, which is a residential zone.

“Arc would need to get approval from the city,” King said.

He said the sale also is subject to the approval of county Judge S. Michael Yeager. A hearing in front of Yeager will be at 9 a.m. Dec. 22.

Additionally, King said the decision is subject to a higher bid by J.M. Beatty Furniture. The furniture company, which wants to use the building as a retail store, initially bid $380,000 for the school.

About 3:30 p.m. Monday, the district received a second bid from J.M. Beatty for $530,000. King said Yeager will have to consider that bid in addition to Arc’s bid.

He said there is a chance that Arc could submit a higher bid for Yeager to consider as well.

Halle pointed out that the new board members could vote to overturn the sale of Broad Street. King noted that decision also would be subject to Yeager’s discretion.

Broad Street is one of four elementary schools the district closed in June as a part of a consolidation and cost-saving measure. Clearfield, Meridian and Oakland were the other closed schools.

Besides the two bids for Broad Street, two bids have been placed for Meridian. One is from Michael D. Wright for $425,000 to house 70E, a business that tests electrical protective equipment. The other is from Ken McDonalds and Brent Thomas for $350,000 to convert it to a senior residential facility.

Superintendent Dale Lumley said the school district has put consideration of all other offers on school buildings on hold until incoming board members take their seats.

Each of those buildings had two appraisals. Broad Street’s were for $335,000 and $578,000 and Meridian’s were for $400,000 and $660,000.

In September, the board rejected a $150,000 bid from the Center for Community Resources for Broad Street.

At the meeting, John Link, executive director of Arc, said that the nonprofit’s plans are to consolidate all of its operations into Broad Street. Currently, Arc has a job training facility on Washington Street and administrative offices in Pullman Center.

He said the nonprofit’s facilities are overcrowded.

“We’ve grown a lot,” Link said.

The Arc is an agency that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Link said he is in the process of meeting with J.M. Beatty to see if the furniture company is interested in using Arc’s current buildings.

Kathy Kline, a Butler city council member, said she would be pleased with the sale, saying it would keep the nonprofit in the city and could help bring new businesses.

“I commend you for what you have done,” Kline said to Link.